Diz News - Thursday 9.4.08

Keepoceansclean.org has launched a new campaign to keep our oceans clean featuring none other than our favorite mermaid (or former mermaid?) Ariel. The new advertising campaign and website is to educate kids and families about ways of keeping litter and debris out of the oceans. Junk in the oceans is one of the 13 contributors to the decrease in coral reef ecosystems and the public can help to prevent these problems.

Misty May-Trainor, two time gold medal beach volleyball olympian, will get a double dose of Disney. She will be strapping on her dancing shoes on Dancing With the Stars and will also guest star on the Wizards of Waverly Place on the Disney Channel. On Wizards, she will portray herself on the show.

Those saddened by the cancelation of My Friends Tigger and Pooh (this may just be me) can have some consolation that Darby and the gang will appear this Halloween in a new direct to DVD release: Hundred Acre Wood Haunt. The DVD is in stores now and selling for $19.99. Not to be outdone, Mickey has a new DVD as well: Mickey’s Magical Storybook Surprises.

Diz News - Wednesday 9.3.08

Oh Pooh!

Oh Pooh! The Disney Channel show, and at least in our house huge hit, “My Friends Tigger and Pooh” is reportedly not getting a third season. Honor Hunter over at Blue Sky Disney is reporting that this Playhouse Disney show will not be renewed. I just hope that The Munchkin doesn’t find out. It’s is her favorite!


Wizards Gets Extended Season

In other Disney Channel news, “The Wizards of Waverly Place” have had their second season extended and will be filming 26 new episodes about the wizarding family. The new season begins airing at the end of September.


We’ve Got Spirit How ‘Bout You?

Disney has teamed up with MySpace to find out what high school has the most sprit. The contest, which started yesterday and runs until November 3rd, asks students to log onto MySpace and complete various online and messaging tasks. The school that wins the most points will get a trip to Walt Disney World’s Grad Nites and a special pep rally staring Natasha Bedingfield. Magical Mountain has the scoop here.


Disney Announces Upcoming Blu-Ray Releases

Disney has announced the titles of the next five Disney Classics to be released on the Blu-Ray format: 'Pinocchio', 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs', 'Fantasia', 'Fantasia 2000', and 'Beauty and the Beast.' Each of these discs will include the BD live feature which has the Blu-Ray player check online for additional content each time the disc is played.

Diz News - Wednesday 8.27.08

The “Suite Life” on the Wonder

The “Suite Life with Zack and Cody” crew is on deck on The Disney Wonder August 28 - 31, to premiere the series spin-off: “The Suite Life on Deck”. All of the actors that play the main characters will appear, including Cole and Dylan Sprouse and Phil Lewis. On Decks 9 and 10 on Friday, the world premiere will take place with the red carpet, a party and screening of the show.


Extra Magic Hour Wristbands to be Disbanded

Disney will be getting rid of the wrist bands that were used to signify resort guests eligible to attend Extra Magic Hours in the parks. Now guests will just be asked to simply show their “Key to the World” card in order to gain admittance to attractions during evening Extra Magic Hours. This will allow guests who are not staying on property a chance to stay in the parks to enjoy restaurants and shopping.


Ed Catmull Wins Pausch Prize

The first annual Randy Pausch Prize from Carnegie Mellon University's Entertainment Technology Center will be given to Ed Catmull. The award “honors entertainment industry experts who embody his interdisciplinary spirit.” Ed Catmull is the co-founder of Pixar. He also created the “computer graphics laboratory at the New York Institute of Technology and the computer division of Lucasfilm Ltd.”

DizNews: Toon Disney to become Disney XD and What???

Disney has announced that starting in February 2009, Toon Disney will become Disney XD. The network will be geared toward boys aged 9-14. This same age group for girls is the primary demographic for the Disney Channel, thanks to Hannah Montana, and vehicles for the Jonas Brothers and Cheetah Girls. One of the shows that they are producing for the network is called “Aaron Stone” which is a live action show about a teen who lives a double life as a regular kid who likes to play video games and as a crime fighter. Sound familiar? Other shows in development are supposedly in the action adventure and comedy vein, but there are no specifics yet.

Here are some links about the change:
Blue Sky Disney
Netcot
MiceAge


What???
There is a very odd little bit in Al Lutz’ weekly round up of Disney bits. Apparently Disney is no longer accepting any written correspondence about the theme parks, this includes cast member kudos and comment cards. Staff in the parks can pass along information verbally but no written communications. This is reportedly due to several law suits stemming from people who made suggestions for the parks such as repeating attractions in other parks or moving things around in the parks and then expected to be compensated by Disney for their ideas. This just makes me sad. I can’t tell you how many times I have suggested to others to write their comments, kudos and concerns to the Walt Disney Company because they would be heard. If Al is right, and I can’t imagine he would write it if he wasn’t, this is a major change in policy and I wonder how people will be able to be heard, particularly when they want to commend someone. Here is a link to the article.

High School Musical 3 Movie Trailer

High School Musical fans get ready, Disney will be releasing the trailer for High School Musical 3: Senior Year on July 13th. The US debut will be at 7:55 p.m. Eastern. You will also be able to see the trailer online at Disney.com. The trailer will feature the song "Now or Never" and it will debut on Radio Disney on July 11 at 7:15 p.m. Eastern.

Disney Channel in Europe and Wall-E #8?

The AFP is reporting that Disney is looking into launching TV channels in Europe. Disney already has a "cable" channel in Spain but these will cover other EU countries as well. From the article, it appears that Disney will have several offerings in these countries but is keeping mum as to the channel contents.

Wall-E has been named by the IMDB users (does anyone know if this is everyone or just movie people? The data base only considers "regular voters") as the number 8 movie of all time. Wohoo! Considering that the other movies in the top 20 are all "classics" this is pretty neat. The next most recent movie is Return of the King from 2003. I can't wait to see this movie.

Camp Rock Rocks Ratings

Camp Rock came in at 8.9 million viewers on Friday night, making it the second most viewed program ever on the Disney Channel behind High School Musical Two. While this was not as large an audience as HSM2, about half its size, this was still a strong showing. The movie was
shown again on Saturday night on ABC's World of Disney. I noticed that Target had a whole display of merchandise this weekend. Those of you that missed it can watch it on Disney.com starting today.

Camp Rocks?

So, Camp Rock makes it's Disney Channel debut tonight (check your local listings). I have sifted through many online reviews and they appear to really run the gamut from raves to pans. Really, I think we have to wait for the fans to chime in an keep in mind that this really is for the kids. It's summer and what's almost as good as being at camp? Why, a movie about camp.

Here are the links to a few reviews (warning may contain spoilers):

Houston Chronicle: Camp Rock Really Delivers

San Jose Mercury News: Camp Rock Really Doesn't

E! News Online: HSM was Big; Can Camp Rock be Bigger?

Camp Rock set to be next High School Musical?

The press machine has really started cooking for Camp Rock, a new musical movie that will premiere on the Disney Channel this Friday June 20th. The movie staring Demi Lovato and the Jonas Brothers takes place at a music camp for rich kids. Lovato, plays the Cinderella role, working in the kitchen with her mom so that she can attend the camp where she befriends the Jonas Brothers. Disney is hoping that this will be the next High School Musical, what do you think? Can the High School Musical magic be recreated?

Time Warner offering Disney Channel and ABC Family in HD

ABC Family and Disney Channel will be available in HD for Time Warner customers. Customers who are already getting HD service will receive the channels automatically. Disney Channel shows and movies are already all shot in HD. ABC Family shows: The Middleman, Greek, Kyle
XY and Wildfire will be seen in HD.

Disney Channel’s Line Up for Next Season

The Disney Channel made some major announcements for their shows and original movies. Phinneas and Ferb and the Wizards of Waverly Place have both been renewed for second seasons and Hannah Montana will be returning for a third season. They also announced three upcoming
Disney Channel exclusive movies. Camp Rock, about a summer camp for aspiring rockers. They also announced Dadnapped, staring several of the actors from Hannah Montana, and Princess Protection Palace. Tweens all over the country will be rejoicing.

The Jonas Brothers get Real and Jim Hill Strikes Again

The Jonas Brothers, are getting their own reality show. The group is slated to have their own scripted series set for next fall but in the meantime they are getting a reality series following them on tour. Set to air later this spring, the show is centered on the group touring the country. So you will be able to see them on stage and off stage. Teenage girls will be in a frenzy.

I would be totally remiss if I didn't report on Jim Hill's article yesterday on possible changes at Animal Kingdom. Jim reports that "Rivers of Lights" a night time parade/spectacular planned for the park has been axed. Jim also reports as to the status of Night Kingdom and the possibility of Beastly Kingdom being resurrected as a new land for the park. Ooooohhhhh... Although we have all read this somewhere before, so many of these stores are deja vu all over again aren't they? But I can't help getting a little excited at the prospect of any of these speculations coming true.

Link

Disney reports Growth in First Quarter, Phineas and Ferb and the Man in the Hat

Disney has reported that despite difficulties in the economy there is strong growth in their television and theme park profits. Revenue for the quarter increased 9% to 10.5 billion which exceeded their published expectations of around 10 billion. The news was not all rosy however, as net income was down from the same quarter a year before by 16 cents a share.

Phineas and Ferb, a cartoon about a two step-brothers, their sister Candice and the family platypus named Perry. The show was the mostwatched show for tweens last Friday and was Disney's second biggest premier for an animated series. The P&F crew will now have their own clothing line now selling at the Disney Stores.

Finally, for those of you anxiously awaiting the release of the new Indiana Jones movie, pictures have leaked on the internet of the movie's title McGuffin: The Crystal Skull (for more on McGuffin's see: Alfred Hitchcock). Blue Sky Disney has a picture and links to others.

Rocky Horror Stars in Disney Cartoon and Disney Institute Helps Businesses Learn to Break Bad News

Richard O'Brien, Tim Curry and Barry Bostwick will all be starring as the voices in a new Disney animated series, "Phineas and Ferb". New shows will be airing on the Disney Channel starting in February.

The LA Times is reporting that the Disney Institute, has been teaching the service industry how to have service with a smile for years. Now apparently they are helping companies with a much tougher audience: health care and insurance companies and airports. These companies are now coming to Disney to learn their customer service techniques and apply them to their businesses often seen as evil empires.